Ivan III of Russia

Ivan "The Great" III of Russia (22 January 1440-27 October 1505) was the Grand Prince of Moscow from 1462 to 1505. During his rule he introduced autocracy to Russia, and conquered Novgorod, destroying the assembly and stamping his rule over former Golden Horde lands. He succeeded Vasily II of Russia and preceded Vasily III of Russia.

Biography
Son of Vasily II of Russia, Ivan took power upon his father's death in 1462 and fought many wars against Novgorod. In 1471 he forced Novgorod to give Moscow their northern lands and their Baltic territories, and in 1478 he destroyed their assembly and conquered the whole country. With Russia united under his rule, he became the first pan-Russian ruler, and he focused on pushing off the "Tatar yoke" of the Golden Horde. In 1480, Akhmat Khan's Mongol army encountered Ivan's army on the Ugra River, and when Akhmat died in 1481, the Golden Horde was cut into pieces. In 1495, the first Muscovian embassy opened in the Crimean Khanate, and he helped the Crimeans fight the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He died in 1505, one of the longest-reigning Russian rulers.